Many years ago, on a planet much like this one, someone who may or may not fit my description took many more than that. They were empty, but they were there, for me to make fermenters out of.I spared those poor vessels the fate of being filled with more crap.

Um, I mean, that other person might have done it and thats why they did it.

alienated:Many years ago, on a planet much like this one, someone who may or may not fit my description took many more than that. They were empty, but they were there, for me to make fermenters out of.I spared those poor vessels the fate of being filled with more crap.

Um, I mean, that other person might have done it and thats why they did it.

I agree a "friend" of mine (yeah, that's it) has a couple of A-B keggles and "he" feels they've been spared from a life of indignity.

I grew up in PA and we used to swipe 'em all the time. I think the security deposit was 10 bucks, so if you grabbed two or three that was a couple of cases of beer for free. Then they started requiring a receipt to get the deposit back, for some reason.

Cooperage is one of the biggest capital expences a brewery puts out. They cost us some $120 a pop new, 80 used, and thats getting them in bulk. The deposit doesn't cover replacement costs, and stainless goes for around $60 on the scrap market.We are constantly adding new stock to fuel demand and replace lost ones.

Electric_Banana:I grew up in PA and we used to swipe 'em all the time. I think the security deposit was 10 bucks, so if you grabbed two or three that was a couple of cases of beer for free. Then they started requiring a receipt to get the deposit back, for some reason.

I hope not. I'm picking up a half keg on Friday, and I lost my receipt from the last keg.

vegasj:either scrapped or they plan to try and return them somewhere...

Homebrewers use 5 gallon Pepsi ball lock kegs or Coke pin lock kegs.

I know, I have 2 pepsi kegs in my chest freezer & need 2 more.

Corny kegs are used for despencing home brew, I'm talking about folks turning HB kegs into brewing vessels, 15 gal. cooking pots, etc, de-gas the keg, chop the top off of it, so a 12" pot lid fits over top. etc.

these kegs were stolen to be sold to a scrap yard.

we had a big problem with that here in town until we threatened all the scrap yards with legal action if any of our kegs showed up there. then we made the deal with them that if any keg did show up to pay the person dropping off the deposit, and we would reimburse them. It turned out that if we just threatend to sue and impress them if they accepted the kegs, they would just be dumped by the thieves. this way, we actually get them back..

as said, each one of those kegs represents a $120 investment from the brewery. and each time we loose a keg to the nether, be it someone stealing it and scrapping it like this, some collage kid turning the keg into furniture, or somebody holding on to it to save deposit costs on the next one, we don't have that keg available to clean and refill and put back out into circulation. so it must be replaced.

so no offense to the folks trying to save $30, but you are costing me $120.

Cerebral Knievel:vegasj: either scrapped or they plan to try and return them somewhere...

Homebrewers use 5 gallon Pepsi ball lock kegs or Coke pin lock kegs.

I know, I have 2 pepsi kegs in my chest freezer & need 2 more.

Corny kegs are used for despencing home brew, I'm talking about folks turning HB kegs into brewing vessels, 15 gal. cooking pots, etc, de-gas the keg, chop the top off of it, so a 12" pot lid fits over top. etc.

these kegs were stolen to be sold to a scrap yard.

we had a big problem with that here in town until we threatened all the scrap yards with legal action if any of our kegs showed up there. then we made the deal with them that if any keg did show up to pay the person dropping off the deposit, and we would reimburse them. It turned out that if we just threatend to sue and impress them if they accepted the kegs, they would just be dumped by the thieves. this way, we actually get them back..

as said, each one of those kegs represents a $120 investment from the brewery. and each time we loose a keg to the nether, be it someone stealing it and scrapping it like this, some collage kid turning the keg into furniture, or somebody holding on to it to save deposit costs on the next one, we don't have that keg available to clean and refill and put back out into circulation. so it must be replaced.

so no offense to the folks trying to save $30, but you are costing me $120.

semantics TIm, and considering I work for the brewery, and the breweries bottom line effects raises and bonuses, yes, it effects the brewery, and in the long term.. me. as the guy who works in the brewery.

or are your people you work for so rich that this is not a consideration for you to worry about?

semantics TIm, and considering I work for the brewery, and the breweries bottom line effects raises and bonuses, yes, it effects the brewery, and in the long term.. me. as the guy who works in the brewery.

or are your people you work for so rich that this is not a consideration for you to worry about?

Not semantics..you are inferring that it is your brewery... which it is not...you work there, like I did.. I was maintainance, you are utility.. the cost of the kegs do not affect your pay.. and since when have bonuses been paid? I know of only 4 bonuses.. the fat twins and two other folks in the Pub.. over three years ago... any type of theft affects the ability to grow.. in any business.. cooperage loss is going to happen: breweries plan for that.. 'my people' plan on it as well.. and we are looking at RFID chipping and scanning.. others are also...

semantics TIm, and considering I work for the brewery, and the breweries bottom line effects raises and bonuses, yes, it effects the brewery, and in the long term.. me. as the guy who works in the brewery.

or are your people you work for so rich that this is not a consideration for you to worry about?

Not semantics..you are inferring that it is your brewery... which it is not...you work there, like I did.. I was maintainance, you are utility.. the cost of the kegs do not affect your pay.. and since when have bonuses been paid? I know of only 4 bonuses.. the fat twins and two other folks in the Pub.. over three years ago... any type of theft affects the ability to grow.. in any business.. cooperage loss is going to happen: breweries plan for that.. 'my people' plan on it as well.. and we are looking at RFID chipping and scanning.. others are also...

well, Im not going to get into an argument on past operations, Yes, I work there, I've worked there a very long time, I believe in the company and the product we make, I go out of my way to make sure people know that I work for the company, that I am a brewer/cellarman I have NEVER INFERRED that I own the place. I take ownership of the product, it is the fruits of my labor. Do I own the place as in the guy who started up? or a capital investor? a share holder?

No..

but the people who know me, know of me, KNOW that I am passionate about what I do and that my blood, sweat and tears go into every last keg, bottle and what not that comes out of there. yes I OWN what I do, how I do it, and who I do it for.

I'm sorry if you can't wrap your mind around this ENTIRE, almost SOCIALIST NOTION, But I'm happy for YOU that can disassociate yourself from your job so much that it's meaningless to you.

so yes, if some ass hole steals a keg from the brewery, they've stolen from ME, John, Alex, Brian, Smitty, Lee, Mark, our families and every person we employ.

Now, I kindly ask you drop this GOTCHA! crap with me, understand my work ethic and philosophy, and if you have any other issues regarding pay, bonuses and all that crap, then you take it up with Tom, Dave, or Rick and not with me.

as for RFID chipping kegs? its good for internal tracking, inventory control, and shipping, but they will not track a wild keg. you need GPS for that. which.... incidentally has yielded hilarious results when breweries have logged in to find their kegs.